Proportionality

Israel Gaza war
Proportionality and the Israel-Hamas Conflict

For proportionality to remain a helpful category in limiting the horrors of war, it needs to remain a calculation of costs against effects—measuring the goods to be achieved by two measures of harms, including that which will be likely done if force is not used,

Five Reflections on Trump’s Soleimani Strike
Five Reflections on Trump’s Soleimani Strike

Like many, my reaction to the killing of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani has been an admixture of satisfaction and apprehension.

On Proportionality Trump’s Tweet is Wrong, but His Actions Are Right
On Proportionality Trump’s Tweet is Wrong, but His Actions Are Right

Is Donald Trump really supporting a disproportionate response against Iran? US military responses must be, and have been during the Trump administration, proportionate.

Covert Operations: Just War or Dirty Hands?
Covert Operations: Just War or Dirty Hands?

Two Christian schools of thought might support covert operations and espionage: the just war tradition and a kind of “dirty hands” moralism. The dirty hands view says all those in political power must unavoidably resort to evil for the common good. The just war tradition has a different approach.

Assassinate Assad?
Assassinate Assad?

Following the Christian just war tradition, could the assassination of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad be justified, despite its illegal nature?

First to Fight for Right Lewis Chesty Puller First Marine Division Just War
First to Fight for Right: “Chesty” Puller & America’s Defenders Today

The First Marine Division’s paragon of virtue, Chesty Puller, upheld the standards of just warfighting and respect, if not love, of the enemy. We pray his progeny leading the defense of our nation today will do the same.